Method and apparatus for lubricating punching dies



Patented ct. 23, 1923.

i :ft 'will HENRY MILLER, OE SAN FRANCISCO,` CnLIEOR-Nrni.- As'sIeNoR'ro AMERICANCAN COMPANY, OE SANFRANCISCO7 CALIFORNIA, n CORPORATION OE NEW JERSEY.

' `METHOD AND JarPnRMJUs ECR Application filedt May 23,v

To ad whom timely concer/n." y, y Be it known that I, HENRYMLLER,y al citizen ofthe Unitedv'Statesyresiding at the city and countyofSan Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus. fonLubricating- Punching y Dies, of which the followingis a specifi-` .cation. v f

The present invention relates to a method and apparatusl for lubricating-.punching or cut-tingV dies while operating on Sheets of. metal and equally so for applyingalubr, eating medium` to the surface of a sheet of metal being operated upon by the punching Or cuttingmeans; the Objects of the invention being to dispense with the hand labor,v

heretofore employed in connection Ywith lubricatingr the surfaces of thev sheets` `of metal; facilitate the operation of the punch* innr or cutting-means; prolongthelife ofthe said means; increase thefdaily outputl of a stamping press and reduce to a minimum` the work of re-sharpeningthe outtingedges f of theV operating dies ofthe press'.

ln the operation of stamping pressesv yusing sharp "edged dies for kcutting and forming blanks for cancovers and drawn seamless boxes and other operations `on sheet metal, it is desirable to 'lubricate the sheets from which these parts' are cut, which lubrication iscarried to the cutting edges and surfaces ofthe dies to make their operation easier, to prolongtheirlife, and to materially increaset-he output andreduc'e the necessity of sharpening orvdressing their surfaces,` which operation requires their re! moval from the pressand the suspension of operation during this period,v or' atleast i for the replacement of the Adull and worn dies by others. n

The lubrication of the sheets has heretofore usuallvjbeen accomplished by hand labor, as follows :e y Y' A stack of large sheets are piled on a table, an operator by means-of a swab or brush carrying lubricant` goes over thefe n A tire top surface of each-sheet andthe-u 'places it on anew pile. It is only necessary to'lubricate one side, for when the sheets are piled' one von top *of the other.` the un-v lubricated side acquires enough'lubricant@l from its surface Contact with the lubricated sheet underneath.

LUBRICATING PUNCHING Inns.l

1921. seriiNo. 471,875.

iVVhenk a larg-e vstackv lof lubricated vsheets have accumulatedtheyv are conveyed to a position near a stamping. press, where an .operator may pick olf the uppermost'sheet to present it toy vthercutting and forming terfered materially with their easy ,andl

quick removal from. the ypile by the press operator,v and thereby` vwere the-,direct cause. Vof a dropping oil' of the production of the press. To keep up vthe'` production it was found necessaryto provide an vassistant to the operatorwhose duty Uitwas to seperate each sheet and lay it on a table within easy reach of the operator, whose sole time was' then devoted to feeding the sheets through the press. y In thisway the output'was,.main-` tained, rbut yat the expense of anadditional operatonand, furthermore, 1t was found 1n the old hand method that while the lubri-V cant might be placed ever soevenly on the sheets, the tendency, when they were piled one on top of the` other, was for the lubricant to collect inlittle rpuddles on the low y spots, Vsince none of the` Ysheets ever lie 'exactly flat, and this .wa-s'the cause of more.

Orless Ofafmussy condition. f

With the present method which resides in subjecting the cutting` edgesor surface'sof the cutting dies to ya spray atmosphereof lubricating medium.' whichis-intermittently Y directed againstthe cuttingr surfaces of the n dies of, a press. during the operating` stroke of the'reciprocating cutting die, the ,meansj controlling `the actionv of liquid sprayfdevices being automatically actuated the operating movement of the press5 the sheet of metal to .bepunched beine; lubricated by said spray of lubricatingmedium progressively las advanced through the press and overV the area just adjacent that portion of the sheet from which the blank is to be immediately cut, whereby Vthe surface Ofi/the sheet lis left substantially dryv except where being acted on by the cutting means of the press andthe lubricant is placed just where vitis wanted and in just the quantity desired.

Anapparatusfor thecarrying out of the described method invention isjdisclosed by the accompanying drawings; whereinn `Figure l 1s a View showing the 'general Y il) arrangement of the automatic lubricating device as applied to a` press equipped for drawing seamless boxes. g Y

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of that part of the mechanismv adjacent the `power shaft ofthe press from which it is actuated. as the press operates. y

Figure V is anrenlarged view of the cir'- cular pipe formingV the lubricating head from which the Vlubricant is sprayed ont-o Ythejsheet just before cutting and on ther dies just after .the cut and is: taken onea4 `line 34-3 of'Fig. 1.

Inthis improved lubricating devicejfor YVthe carrying out of themethod invention,

the lubricant is Vapplied to the sheet in the' formof a 'fine spray, just after it is placed in position between the dies and just before the dies come togetherto cut the blank from which the parts are to beV drawn; the lu-v bricating material being conveyed to the pressthrough suitable pipes and islet into an air pipe that carries 'a pressure of about 15` pounds to the squareinch. Above the connection j where j the, lubricant enters the air pipe is a valve that is normally heldy closed by means of springs under tension, engaging opposite sides of a valve arm. Suitable tripping devices are arranged on the end of the power shaft and so placed that as the shaft revolves, oneof the tripping'devices engages the end of the valve arm and momentarily opens the valve, producing an instantaneous spray on the sheet andl end of the punch just as thepunch approaches the sheet to cut the blank, then just as the punch starts on its up, stroke and' has cleared the sheet the other tripping device on the end of the power shaft momentarily opens the airl valve and the lower die is sprayed with lubricant through the hole in the sheet before the operator has time to. move the sheet' to the next position. j

lt is to be understood that in the operation of presses of this'character', 'the movement of the punch is controlled by a foot treadle.

, the treadle being pressed only when the sheet y isproperly placed for the next cut.

The total time of one revolution of the powershaft, if timed at the rate of y:100

Y strokes per minute with the press running continuously would be three-fifths of a sec- 0nd,*so that the total time of each cut will be the sheet after the cut and before the lastv spraying is done, which permits the spray l of lubricant to go through the hole in the sheet and cover the die.

In the drawings, the numeral lis used to indicate the top or frame of any suitably constructed press and to which is held the lower stationary die or punch 2. The upper die or punch 3 issecured or carried by the cross head of the press and the same constitutes the reciprocatingl cutting'member which coacts with the fixed die or punch 2, as usual in this type of machinery. k

Situated above and located adjacent the lowerdie or punch 2 is "arranged a spray head 4f, the same comprising in the present case, a circular disposed pipe which is held or lsecured in any suitable manner to the frame of the press and so disposed as to substantially surround the lower end portion of the-reciprocating die or punch 3 and through which the said die or punch works on its downward and .upward strokes as moved toward and from the fixed die or punch 2. The saidspray head l is provided witha series of outlet orifices or perforations 4 through which a lubricating medium is forced under pressure onto and against the cutting edges or surfaces of the dies or punches 2 Vand 3 during the reciprocating movement of the punch 3.

From theair pressure supplyrpipe 6 is extended a flexible connection 5, which connection at its lower lend is attached to the distributing members' connected with andex-L tended from the extremities of the 'spray head 4; f f

lVith the air pipefcommunicates a lubricating supply pipe 7, which pipe is provided with a check valve 8 to prevent the air rpressure from blowing backV to an oil supply tank (not shown). l

An air supply pipe is extended from ya source of pressure (notshown), and said supply pipe is provided with an air valve .9 from which is extended an arm or handle l0. This arm Vor handle is operated to throw the valve 9 by means of the .spaced trip devices 11 and 12 secured to the end of the power shaft 13, and which, during the rotary movement of the l. said shaft, operate to throwthe arm l10 to open the valve 9 in order togive two actions to the said valve. The valve 9 is normally held closed by the tension of the springs la and l5, which are situated on each side of the arm. 10, so that when the press is turned in' reverse direction duringv the setting and adjusting of the dies, the arm l0 will move in either direction, which would not be possible if it came against' a stop on one side. c

There isprovided an auxiliary valve 6 in the air'pipe line 6 in order to permit of the shutting oil' of pressure during the time the dies are changed and adjusted or the press is'reversed` in motionv for working around the dies, whereby the iiow of lubricant vpropelling air throughthe air pip`e line Gris cut o. e n l In F lof the drawingsthe'power shaft of the press is disclosed in its normal idle position with the reciprocating punch f or die 3 in its uppermost V"positionand atY Y which time the valve handle or tripping arm f' dies or punches.

lOVstands in normal position betweenthe trip members 11-and 1 `During thev operation .of thepress the" shaft 13 rotating in the direction, indicated.y by the arrow, causes they-trip member 12.

carried thereby to engage the arm 10 so as to throw the same to openzthe air valve 9 momentarily as it passes, whichwill, just before the end of theshaftsrotatiom be engaged 'by the ,member 11, and whichwill again be rthrown to momentarily open the` valve 9, it being understood that the valve is closed asthe trip devices move outrof contact with the arm 10,' such closure being produced by the tension of the springs 14 and 15. Y Y

Each time the valve 9 is opened, lubricant will be drawn Vinto and forced fromV within the pipe 6 and under pressure forced into the spray head 4 through its connection and will escape through the orifices or perforations inthe spray head in the form of a spray and be ejected onto the cutting edges of the dies or punches 2 and 3, and at the same time will be ejected onto the surface of Ythe sheet of metal S, which, at such time, is positionedbetween the cutting Asthe material is cut or punched from the blank or sheet VS on the downward stroke ofthe punch or die 3, andY during the upward or return stroke of the Said die or punch 3, the air valve 9 is actuatedv toncause a lubricating medium to be forced into and ejected fromrthe spray head and onto the cutting edge of thestationary die@` through the aperture or hole in thesheet n The sheet is then advanced betweenthe dies for the cutting of anotherblank therefrom, and during the downward stroke of theputting die or punchB, thevvalve 9 is tripped to cause lubricant' under pressure to enter within and be forced fromthe sprayhead onto the cutting edge of the said die 3, and also onto the upper surface of the sheet of metal S, sok that on onev stroke of the die or, punch `3 the cutting edge of the fixed or .stationaryrdie 2 is` ing or-cniiing vthe invention t6 such de-l tai'ledf construction of working l parts, i but, on. the contrary, wish to be understood as claiming as kbro'adlyv as the state of the art `will warrant the'iintroductipn *ofv means forkvk co'actingr` with the reciprocating?cutting" punch or die and thrown into action by the movement" thereof for applying aspray fof lubricant orlubrficating materialonto the cutting 4edg'fe's v'of the dies of the press, and,

equally 4so, wishfto be understood as claim?" j ingas broadly'las; the arti-will warrant, the j method'fof lubricating the cutting 'n edges "of f thesdiesffof a punch through the medium v*of* intermittent sprays or jets of lubricant applied thereto duringithe operating moveoff the press, and, equally so, to they ments surfacek of the sheet of metal toy be acted upon. fl

Havingl thus'lkdelscribed :thef inventiolmi what is claimed as newy and desired to be protected byLetters Patent is 1; The method of lubricating, the cutting members l`of 4sheet vmetal ,cutting` presses; which consists in intermittently subjectingr the cutting members to sprays of lubricant,

directed inwardly from all sides towards` ing the operation ofthe press.

2;; The method o-f lubricating the cutting,

members of sheet metal .cutting presses',

which consists in passing the reciprocating cutting Vmembers intermittently through a spray of lubricant, and directing saidv spray onto the rfixedr cutting member `of the press and on tothe reciprocating -member at dif.

the longitudinal aXis of said members, dur-L ferent times during the reciprocating strokes ofthey reciprocating `cutting mem-A ber:

sprayD of lubricant tothe fixed and lmovable cuttingsmembers lof the press, positioning a sheetto be operated upony between-the cutting-members, spraying-the area ofthe sheetV to be operated upon by the cutting members of the' press on a reciprocating movement of thermovable cutting member,cutt1ng and' forming a part from the Sprlyed area of the sheet, thence spraying the `fixed cuttingl membferthrough the openinguthus formed in the sheet, advancingthe sheet to anew positionl between' thel cutting members and spraying the'- movable cutting member and i3. yThe ymethod' ofy applying la lubricant'k tothe surface of a sheet yo-f metal to be cut andto thecutting members offa sheet metal cuttingr press, `which consists ,in applying av the surface ofthesheet duringthe move- Y mentsof saidl member for the cutting and forming a part from said sheet.

4. The method of lubricating the fixed and movable cutting members of a sheet metal cutting press, which consists in automatically spraying the said members with lubricant during` the reciprocating) movements of the movable cutting mem er, the

[from the sprayed area of the positioned' fixed member being sprayed through the opening formedfby said members in the sheet.

l 5. rElie 'methodof lubricating the fixed'andy movable members of a. sheet metal cutting press, andy lubricating the surface of the" sheet, which consists in'applyingto the movable-,cutting 'member and to a given areaofy a sheet positioned between the cutting membe'rsa spray of lubricant, cutting a section 5 sheet', spraying the -fixedcutting member with a lubricantthrough the lcut-out section of thefslieet, andlthencespraying thelubricantonto Vthe movable member prior to again acting on the sheet in a changed positionfor cutting a section therefrom.-

' 6. The method of lubricating the fixed and movable cutting membersof a sheet'metal cutting press, which consists in automatin' cally and intermittently 'directing fa' spray of lubricantfrom all'sides inwardly onto the `cutting members during the reciprocating strokesk of themovable member.

7. The method 'of lubricating thev fixed and f movable cutting members of sheet vmetal'cutting presses, which consists in automatically applying to cutting faces of saidmembers a lubricant during the Vreciprocating strokes of the movable member, and punching` a central opening in the said'sheet metal, the` lubri-rv I cantbeing applied above the 'surface-'of the ses sheet metal and through said opening to the lower cutting member. f

8. The method oflubricating the fixed and movable cutting membersof she-et metal cutting presses, which consists in automatically on'one stroke of the movable member spraying "a lubricant to the rcutting face of the fixed cutting member, and then spraying the lubricant to the cutting face off-the movable member on the opposing stroke of said inember, whereby the faces of the cutting mem-- bers are lubricated intermittentlylv Y n 9."In aslieet'meta'l cutting press and in combination with the fixed cuttingmember f and the reciprocating movable cutting mem-` ber' thereof`r a lubricating spray device situ-` AatedfadjacentV the fixed cutting member of the press, and meansautomatically thrown into operation on the reciprocating movement of the movable'cmember for admittingA lubricant under pressure to the spray devicey fork ejection therefrom onto the facesofl the cuttingmembers. Y

10. Inl asheet metal cuttingpress and in eombinati'onpwith the fixed cutting member and the reciprocating movable cutting member thereof, a lspray device situated above the fixed cutting member, pressure controlled means 'for delivering lubricant into ksaid spray device, `and automatically "operated means'for controlling the .action of said press sure lcontrolled means, whereby lubricant is y alternately suppliedito the face of the fixed cutting member and the face ofthe movable cutting member.

711. il press for `lubricating sheets ofl 'metal preparatory to cutting blanks therefrom, the sameY comprising combination a pair of cutting andforming'dies, a spray device locatedfadjacent said. dies, an air supply connecti'on leading ljto said 'spray device forY delivering thereto lubricant under pressure, an'

air valve situated within the air 'supply connection, and means for automatically actuating said valve to supply lubricant to the spray device for ejecting the same onto the faces ofthe cutting members 'during theV operative movements of the press and at predetermined periods.V

- l2. A-pr'ess for lubricating sheets'of metal andcuttingblanks therefrom, the same com- -prising` a pair of cutting dies, a spray devicearranged adjacent said dies for applying lubricantY to the faces thereof at predetermined periods, means associatedwith said ldevice for supplying lubricant thereto, air

controlled pressure means for delivering the lubricant through said means to the sprayv device, and l automatically actuated devices for regulating the air pressure during operative movements of the press.

13. A press for lubricating' sheets and dies preparatoryto cutting blanks therefrom, the

same comprising in combination a pair ofy cutting dies, 'aj spray device arranged adjacent said dies, a lubricant supply leading to" said sprayldevice, an air supply connection for'leading the'lubricant to the spray device, a valve controlling the air supply, a rotatinginember for actuating intermittently one ofthe-:cutting dies.l and means carried by saidmember for actuating the air valve 'at predetermined Vperiods during movements yof the press.

the' operative 14. The mahedof lubricating the exea and movable die members ofl sheet metal cutting and punching presses, vwhich consists the i 

